Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious form of pneumonia. It is caused by a virus that was first identified in 2003. Infection with the SARS virus causes acute respiratory distress (severe breathing difficulty) and sometimes death.

Causes of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

SARS is caused by a member of the coronavirus family of viruses (the same family that can cause the common cold). It is believed the 2003 epidemic started when the virus spread from small mammals in China.

When someone with SARS coughs or sneezes, infected droplets spray into the air. You can catch the SARS virus if you breathe in or touch these particles. The SARS virus may live on hands, tissues, and other surfaces for up to 6 hours in these droplets and up to 3 hours after the droplets have dried.

While the spread of droplets through close contact caused most of the early SARS cases, SARS might also spread by hands and other objects the droplets has touched. Airborne transmission is a real possibility in some cases. Live virus has even been found in the stool of people with SARS, where it has been shown to live for up to 4 days. The virus may be able to live for months or years when the temperature is below freezing.

With other coronaviruses, becoming infected and then getting sick again (re-infection) is common. This may also be the case with SARS.

Symptoms usually occur about 2 to 10 days after coming in contact with the virus. In some cases, SARS started sooner or later after first contact. People with active symptoms of illness are contagious. But it is not known for how long a person may be contagious before or after symptoms appear.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) Symptoms

The main symptoms are:

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Fever greater than 100.4°F (38.0°C)

Other breathing symptoms

The most common symptoms are:

Chills and shaking

Cough, usually starts 2 to 3 days after other symptoms

Fever

Headache

Muscle aches

Less common symptoms include:

Cough that produces phlegm (sputum)

Diarrhea

Dizziness

Nausea and vomiting

Runny nose

Sore throat

In some people, the lung symptoms get worse during the second week of illness, even after the fever has stopped.

Tests and Exams

Your health care provider may hear abnormal lung sounds while listening to your chest with a stethoscope. In most people with SARS, a chest x-ray or chest CT show pneumonia, which is typical with SARS.

All current tests have some limitations. They may not be able to easily identify a SARS case during the first week of the illness, when it is most important.

Treatment of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

People who are thought to have SARS should be checked right away by a provider. If they are suspected of having SARS, they should be kept isolated in the hospital.

Treatment may include:

Antibiotics to treat bacteria that cause pneumonia

Antiviral medicines (although how well they work for SARS is unknown)

High doses of steroids to reduce swelling in the lungs (it is not known how well they work)

Oxygen, breathing support (mechanical ventilation), or chest therapy

In some serious cases, the liquid part of blood from people who have already recovered from SARS has been given as a treatment.

There is no strong evidence that these treatments work well. There is evidence that the antiviral medicine, ribavirin, does not work.

Prognosis (Outlook)

The death rate from SARS was 9 to 12% of those diagnosed. In people over age 65, the death rate was higher than 50%. The illness was milder in younger people.

Many more people became sick enough to need breathing assistance. And even more people had to go to hospital intensive care units.

Public health policies have been effective at controlling outbreaks. Many nations have stopped the epidemic in their own countries. All countries must continue to be careful to keep this disease under control. Viruses in the coronavirus family are known for their ability to change (mutate) in order to spread among humans.

Potential Complications

Complications may include:

Respiratory failure

Liver failure

Heart failure

When to Contact a Health Professional

Call your health care provider if you or someone you have been in close contact with someone who has SARS.

Prevention of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Reducing your contact with people who have SARS lowers your risk for the disease. Avoid travel to places where there is an uncontrolled SARS outbreak. When possible, avoid direct contact with people who have SARS until at least 10 days after their fever and other symptoms are gone.

Hand hygiene is the most important part of SARS prevention. Wash your hands or clean them with an alcohol-based instant hand sanitizer.

Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Droplets that are released when a person sneezes or coughs are infectious.

DO NOT share food, drink, or utensils.

Clean commonly touched surfaces with an EPA-approved disinfectant.

Masks and goggles may be useful for preventing the spread of the disease. You may use gloves when handling items that may have touched infected droplets.